Pneumatic dispatch system



W. J. TAYLOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEM March 12, 1935;

Filed March 8', 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 //v1/:/v rae MM 1 2 44 A AyWQ/Z March 12, 1935..

W. J. TAYLOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEM Filed March 8, 1932 4 Shpets-Sheet 2 e 0 0 fl r r N1 7 4 L a mw 1 HW 7 W vfld- JL J? fi M W W 0 M f l, i 7. M U a M m k r w fig W ,W

March 12, 1935. w. J. TAYLOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 8, 1932 JV/Z/Wae 4444/4/14 J 722202 March 12, 1935. w. J. TAYLOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEM Filed March 8, 1932 YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII L Patented .ar. 12, was

x hMJEB PA QE PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEM William J. Taylor, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to The Lamscn Company,

Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 8, 1932, Serial No. 597x140 13 Claims. (01. 24316) This invention relates to an improvement in pneumatic dispatch systems and more particularly to such systems in which carrier'controlled switching mechanism is provided whereby the carriers are automatically delivered to their destination. I

The primary objects of this invention are to provide in a pneumatic dispatch system station- .ary guides mounted in the transit tube and associated with the various outstations and pins laterally projecting from the carriers and adapted to engage the guides at the outstations; to locate the guides therein at one side only of the center of the transit tube and to .locate the pinsat one side only of the center of the carriers whereby the switching mechanism may be employed in a loop system and the carriers introduced into the transit tube at the outstations may travel to the central station without interference bythe guides at the passed stations; to provide in such system a cruciform transit tube in which the carriers are so supported that the pins are at all times out of contact with the side walls of the tube; to provide a trough into which carriers discharged from the transit tube will fall and from which they are readily removable; andto provide carriers adapted for use in systems embodying this invention.

Other objects will appear from an examination of the following description of the invention and of the drawings which form a part thereof and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pneumatic dispatch system of the loop type having three outstations towhich carriers may be selectively dispatched from a central station-and from which carriers may be returned to the central station;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one form of carrier adapted for use in such system;

Fig. 3 is a cross section of a transit tube having the preferred cruciform conformation and an end elevation of carrier therein;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing .a transit tube of another conformation;

Fig. 5 is a view with parts broken away of a portion of the casing connecting the transit tube sections at atypical outstation as well as the branch tube and a receiving terminal; i

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of a transit tube which has the preferred cruciform conformation illustrating the location of guides at opposite sides thereoi; V

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of an arcuate portion of a transit tube having a down discharge outlet terminal;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10, are plan, side elevation and end elevation viewsrespectively of another form of carrier applicable to this system, a portion of one skirt being broken away in Fig. 10;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a chute into which 5 carriers may be discharged and from which the carriers are readily removable;

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are plan and sectional views respectively of a carrier for a tube of the preferred conformation the portions of the skirt in 10 alignment with the guide pins being hinged;

Figs. 15, 16, 17 and 18 are plan and sectional views respectively of other forms of carriers with hinged skirt portions; and

Figs. 19, 20 and 21 are side elevati0n,'p1an and enlarged sectional views respectively of still another form of carrier which may be used.

Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically a system which may embody the invention of this application. The carriers are dispatched from a central station A to any one of the outstations B, C and D, the selection of such stations being by means on the carriers used in the system which will be described below. From the central station extends a transit tube 25 through which 25 carriers are transported to any one of the three outstations'which tube forms a loop terminating at an inlet terminal 26 at the central station A. The return portion 27 of the tube acts to convey carriers from the outstation D to the central station A. It will be understood that a fiow of carrier transmitting air is set up through the tube 25, in any well known manner as, for example, by the use of a suction blower28 connected by'a pipe 29 with the inlet terminal 26. The direction of travel of the carriers and of the air through the system is indicated by arrows.

Each of the outstations comprises a receiving terminal 30 connected to the main line by a branch tube 31 and a dispatch terminal 32. The

terminals are of any well known type, the dispatch terminals being here illustrated as comprising a door 33 normally held closed by a latch 34. When the door 33 is opened, carriers may be placed in the transit tube for return to the central station A as will be described below. While only three outstations are here shown and described, it will be understood that this invention is not limited thereto and that any desired number of outstations may be included in the system.

The transit tube 25 is preferably, as here shown, substantially rectangular in cross section, Fig. 4 illustrating the tube 25 as being somewhat crowned or enlarged midway of the long sides and F g. 3'illu'strating the tube 25 as of cruciform 55 conformation in cross section, providing pairs of opposite recesses 35, 36 and 37, 38. The tube 25 comprises a plurality of sections which connect casings 39 at each outstation.

As shown in Fig. 5, there is provided inside the casing 39 at each station a guide rod 40 at one side of the center line of the tube which leads directly past the receiving terminal 30. Leading from the bar 40 is ancurved bar 41 which. may be integral with the bar 40 as shown in Fig. 5. Parallel to the curved bar 41 and the portion of the straight bar 40 at one side of the junction with the bar 41 is a bar 42. It will be noted that the bar 42 is spaced substantially an equal distance from the portion of the bar-40 and the bar 41 to provide a continuous guide or'trackway-43. The bars thus described are suitably secured on opposite walls of the station-casing (see .6) and extend fromthe main line into the branch tube 32 here shown as formed by the-casing 39.

Various typesof carriers may be used with this system. The carrier designated at50 is of the message end opening type having. a skirt 52 near its head end. Mounted upon the opposite sides .of the broad face of the carrier 50 are pins 53 which, .as indicated in full lines in Fig. 2, are. in longitudinal alignment. Such,pinsare provided on. opposite sides of the carrier as indicated in Figs. 3. and 4. The location of the pins 53 may bevaried in any suitable manner as desired, other: locationsitherefor being indicated in dotted lines. Upon the; arrival of a carrier atthe proper stationgthe pins 53 thereon enter the guideway 43 associated with that station and'the carrier accordingly deflected into the branch tube 31 and led in the present instance to the receiving terminal 30.

While'bothforms of tubes have been satisfactorily' employed it hasbeen found that the form shown in Fig; 3 whichis of the cruciform conformation is more satisfactory because when passing around curves there is a tendency for the carriers in a tubeof. the typeshown. in Fig.4 to contact with the walls of the. tube and create noise. This action is not possible in the form of tube shown in Fig.3 in which the. pins 53 extend into the opposite recessesBFTandl 38 and are free from contact. with the walls ofthe tube at any time.

'It.will' be noted that the longitudinal extending guidev bars 40 at the various outstations are,. as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, l'ocatedat the left of the center line of the tube at. each of the. outstations. and that the guideways 43- are at the left side of the line of. travel and. vary in distance from theinner edges of the tubes '31. Hence, carriersintended to .be dispatched to station 3 must have the pins. 53 in the lowest positions indicated in dotted lines in Figs. Zand 3,

while those to be. sent to outstation C have their pins 53 in the intermediate dotted line positions and those to be sent to. outstation D have their pins in the position shown in full lines in.Figs.

2. and3, the pins being always on the same side of the center line. That the. carriers maybe returned from the various outstations to the central station through the tube 25 without any danger of their being deflected tosome sub-station on their Way, is made possible by these ar-- turning the carriers .over the pins 53 thereon will travel in the longitudinal sections of the tube separated by guide bars 40 from the longitudinal sections in which the guide bars 41 and 42 are located. This permitsthe use of what is known as a loop system and obviates the necessity of providing an incoming tube which will duplicate the travel of the outgoing tube. .Morerier will be deflected upon reaching the destined station. I I

The cash carrier55- shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is provided with pins 56 which may be variously located, four positions for these pins being shown.

It will be understood that the position of the .pins dependsuponthe number of outstations to be supplied and that the number may be increased or decreasedas occasion demands. However, in. this form as: in the form previously described, the pins. 56- are all kept .at onerside of the center line of the-carrier, thusrendering'it possible to 'use the main tube 25 .as' a directireturn tube through which carriers may be dispatched to the central station. The carriers- 155 alsoinclude heads 57: ateach end: and skirts 58 between the headsand the body ofthe carrier.

The portions of the skirt 52 of the carriers 7 shownin Figs. 2,. 3 and 4 in alignment? with the guide pins 53 are sufiiciently yieldabie so'that whenthe skirt comes in contact with: the 'guide bars-:40 and 42. as it approaches a station, itwill be bent backand thenre'sumeits place when the bars are passed. This is also true with respect to the skirts 58 of the carriers shown inFigs. 8, 9 and 1-0. Under some conditions it is preferred that the portions of the skirt of theacarrier in alignment'with the guide pins be more 40 head of the carrier '60 'comprises a plate 61st the ends of. which are mounted felt strips62 which enter the :recesses 35 and '36. Tongues 63 carried bythe plate 61 enter the waysS'Tand 38 and are hinged as shown in Figs. 12"and"14 upon pins: 64 and include stiffening wires, which as shown in Figs. 12 and 14-may be connected .by a'spring 65' which-normally acts to hold the tongues 63 in the position shown in fulllines in Fig. 14. The'str ips 62'and-tongues 63 are equivalent to and? function to seal the tubein thesame way as woulda skirt. When, however 'the tongues-63 of the skirt contact with bars" 40; 41 and' 42,-.they are swung on'their hinges against the urge of the spring*65. 'When-the carrier has been deflected to" the receiving terminal '30 *by the' engagement of its pins 66 with the guideway 43 or has passed beyond the endsof the bars 40 the spring 65 acts to restore the tonguesI'63 to thepositi'on shown in Fig. 14

In place of the carrier in'which the tongues 63 are moved ineither direction from their normal position as indicated in dotted lines on Fig. 14, a carrier may be employed in which the tongues are moved in one direction only. TSucli carrier is illustrated in Figs. 15 and. 160i. the drawings -wherein the headof the carrier, '70 is shown provided with tongues 'll which arenormally somewhat inclined. and prevented from moving in one direction. away from that position while free to move in the opposite direction.

1The'head of the carrier 60 includes felt strips -72 which enter the recesses 35, 36, while the tongues 71 enter the recesses 37, 38, the strips and tongues thus functioning as would a skirt. The tongues 71 are normally held in the full line position shown in Fig. 16 by meansof springs It will be understood that'the guide bars are mountedin the recesses 37, 38, of thetube and that the tongues "71 upon contacting with the ends of the guide bars, are swung downwardly into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 16, while the pins '74 enter the guideways 43.

The carrier 80 illustrated in Figs. 1'7 and 18 is provided with a head 81, the ends of which enter the recesses 35'and36 of the tube. Mounted for reciprocation in the head 81 are pairs of plates 82 and 83. These plates reciprocate free- 15 in the channel 84 of the head 81, are normally expanded by springs 85 and are guided in their reciprocation by the shanks of screws 86.- Obviously the plates 82 or 83 are retracted by the "guide bars when the carrier approaches a junction and resume their normal position upon leaving the junction. I

The carrier 90 illustrated in Figs. 19, 20 and 21 is similar in construction to that shown in Figs. 15 and 16. It is, however, intended for larger-sized tubes and consequently somewhat ohanged'in construction. The carrier 90 is provided with the pins 91 which enter the guide- Ways 43 at the proper junction. The tongues 92- are pivotally supported upon the head and yieldably held in the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 21. It will be noted that the carriers 70 and 90 can only travel in one direction while the other types of carriers described herein can travel in either direction.

In place of the terminal receivers 30 the carriers may be discharged as in Fig. 7 directly through an outlet 100 onto a table or into a suitable receptacle as for example that shown in Fig. 11. In Fig. '7 guide bar 101 extends completely around the loop while the guide bar 102 which starts parallel to the bar 101 leads to the outlet 100 and terminatesatthe closure-valve 103. In this embodiment the pins of the outgoing carriers are at the inner side of the loop and those of the carriers destined for the station shown bear against the bar 102 so that the carriers are discharged at the outlet 100. The terminal illustrated is of the inside delivery type as distinguished from the other types shown. Fig. 11 shows a trough 105 adapted to receive carriers discharged from the station outlet. As there shown the discharged carrier travels downwardly by gravity and comes to rest at the end of the trough. A suitable pad or bumper 106 may be provided. The walls of the trough near the outer end are low so that the carrier can be easily removed by grasping the body thereof.

While certain embodiments of this invention have been shown and described and several types of carriers adapted for use therein have been set forth, it will be understood that I am not limited thereto and that other forms may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a pneumatic dispatch system having a transit tube through which carriers are selectively dispatched from one station to any one of several stations, said carriers having laterally projecting pins and deflectingmeans in the tubes associated with the; various stations, each of which means engage the pins of carriers destined for the associated station and deflect such carriers thereto from the transit tube, the deflecting means associated with each station being located on the same side of the center line of the transittube andthe pins on the carriers being located at one side of the center whereby only those carriers having pins on the same sideof the center line of the tube on which the deflecting means are located are deflected from their courseof travel through the tube. f

2. In a pneumatic dispatch system having a transit tube through which carriers are selectively dispatched from one station to, any one of several stations, said carriers having laterally projecting pins and deflecting means in the tubes associated with the various stations, each of which means engage the pins of carriers destined for the associated station and defiect such carriers thereto from the transit tube, the de-' fleeting means associated with each station being located on the same side of the center line of the transit tube and the pins on the carriers being located at one side of the center whereby carriers having pins on the opposite side of the center line of the tube from that on which the deflecting means are located travel through the tube' undefiected by such means.

3.' In a pneumatic dispatch system having a transit tube through which carriers are se1ectively dispatched from one station to any one of several stations, said carriers having laterally projecting pins and deflecting means inthe tubes associated with the various stations, each of which means engage the pins of carriers destined for the associated station and deflect such carriers thereto from the transit tube, the deflecting means being so located in the tube and the pins being so located on the carriers that carriers dispatched in one position are deflected and carriers dispatched in another position are not defiected.

4. Ina pneumatic dispatchsystem having a central station, a plurality of outstations, each of said stations having'a carrier dispatching inletand a, carrier delivery outlet, and a transit tube connecting the inlets and outlets of said stations, and through which carriers having laterally projecting pins travel, means whereby carriers in the tube are delivered to the outlets of selected outstations when dispatched in one position and are delivered to the outlet of the central station when dispatched in another position.

5. In a pneumatic dispatch system having a central station, a plurality of outstations, each of said stations having a carrier dispatching inlet and a carrier delivery outlet, and a transit tube connecting the inlets and outlets of said stations, and through which carriers having laterally projecting pins travel, means whereby carriers in the tube are delivered to the outlets of selected outstations when dispatched in one position and are delivered to the outlet of the central station when dispatched in another position, which means comprise a plurality of guideways one guideway associated with each outstation, each of which guideways engages the pins of the carriers destined for the associated outstation and deflects the carriers thereto.

6. In a pneumatic dispatch system having a central station, a plurality of outstations, each of said stations having a carrier dispatching inlet and a carrier delivery outlet, and a transit tube connecting the inlets and outlets of said stations, and through which carriers having laterally projecting pins travel, means whereby carriers in the tube are delivered to the outlets of selected outstations when dispatched in one position and are delivered to the outlet of the central station when dispatched in another position, which means comprises a plurality of guideways, one guideway associated with each outstation,,all of which guideways extend from the same side of the center line of the tube and engaging the pins of the carriers destined for the associated outstations deflect the carriers thereto from the same side of the transit tube. I

'7. In a pneumatic dispatch system having a central station and a plurality of outstations, each of said stations having a carrier dispatching inlet and a carrier-delivery outlet, and a transit tube connecting the inlets and outlets of said stations and through which carriers having laterally projecting pins travel, said transit tube having a cruciform conformation in cross section which providesopposite recesses and guideways in said recesses associated with the outstations, each extending to its associated outstation from the same side of the center line of the tube, the pins on the carriers being at one side of the center of the carriers and traveling in the recesses whereby carriers dispatched in one position are deflected by the engagement of their pins with said guideways and carriers dispatched in another position are delivered to the outlet of the central station, the pins thereon not being engaged by the guideways.

8. A carrier for a pneumatic dispatchsystem wherein carriers traveling through a transit tube are delivered by deflecting means to selected stations comprising a body, pins laterally projecting therefrom, which pins are engaged by said defleeting means and a skirt at one end of the body, the portion of said skirt in alignment with the pins being bodily movable uponengagementwith said deflecting means.

9. A carrier for a pneumatic dispatch system wherein carriers traveling trough a transit tube are delivered by deflecting means to selected stations comprising a body, pins laterally projecting therefrom, which pins are engaged by said deflecting means and a skirt at oneend of the body,

the portion :of csai'd skirt alignment; .withvthe pins being pivotally mounted and movable by engagement with said deflecting means.

10. A carrier for a pneumaticdispatch system wherein carrierstraveling through a transit tube are delivered bydeflecting means to selected stations comprising a body, pinslaterally projecting therefrom, which pins are engaged by said dee' flectingmeansand a skirt at one end of the body, the portion of said skirt in alignment with the pins being pivotally and normally-held in substantial contact with the wall of th e tube and movable out of such contact by engagement with said deflecting means;

11. A carrier for apneumatic dispatch system wherein carriers traveling through a .transittube are delivered by deflecting means to selected stations comprising a body, pins laterally projecting therefrom, which pins are engaged by said ideflecting means and a skirt at one end of the body,

the portion of said skirt in alignment with the pins being slidably mounted and normally held in substantial contact with the wall of the tube and movable out of such contact by engagement with said deflecting means.

12. A carrier for a pneumatic dispatch System wherein "carriers traveling through a transit tube are delivered by deflecting means to selected stations comprising a body, pins laterally project-- ing therefrom, which pins are engaged by said deflecting means, and a skirt which includes pivotally mounted tongues inalignment with said pins, and spring means for holding said tongues outwardly, said tongues being swung against the advanced, said, tongues being retracted against the urge of the spring upon contact with the defleeting means.

WILLIAM J. TAYLOR, 

